Danbury football game suspended because of storms, will resume Friday afternoon

Richard Gregory

Updated 11:06 pm, Thursday, September 12, 2013

HAMDEN -- The Danbury High football team's season-opening game at Hamden High was suspended late in the first quarter Thursday night when heavy thunderstorms rumbled through, packing torrential rain and vivid lightning.

The game will resume at 3 p.m. Friday at Hamden High with the host Green Dragons ahead 6-0. Hamden scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from lefty quarterback Billy Varney to Maliek Williamson on fourth down with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter. Angelo DiMonaco's extra-point kick sailed wide left.

Just five plays into the Hatters' ensuing drive, the sky lit up with lightning, prompting an immediate delay of the game. The players and coaches retreated to the locker rooms and the spectators sought cover wherever they could find it. Just a few minutes after the game was delayed and the field was cleared, the lights went out, plunging the entire stadium into darkness. That was when the announcement was made that the game had been suspended.

When play resumes, the Hatters will have the ball at their own 38-yard line and will be facing a 4th-and-3 situation.

Danbury received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out on its first possession. Hamden then drove 56 yards on 14 plays for the score. Running back Williamson did most of the heavy lifting on that drive, carrying the ball seven times for 29 yards. The Dragons converted two third-downs and one fourth-down along the way.

In other Hatter football news, the Danbury High School Gridiron Club will be holding a homecoming bonfire again this year. Danbury's homecoming game is scheduled for Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. against McMahon. The bonfire is planned for 7:30 that evening, and the planned program will include music, team introductions and a cheerleading exhibition.

"The reviews from last year were great," said Linda Reich, the Gridiron Club President, in a press release. "We hope that the community comes out and supports our athletes."